6 Seafood Restaurants for a Fin-tastic Meal

Spring is the ideal season to rediscover your love of seafood after the hearty meals we all consumed over the Winter months - like Paul Hogan says, ‘throw another shrimp on the barbie’!

With an abundance of seafood available to Australian diners, here are six restaurants to cast your net over delicious meals created from the bounty of the seas:

Pioneering fin-to-scale dining is what you’ll find on the menu at Chef-hatted Saint Peter on Underwood Street in Paddington. The brainchild of innovative Chef Josh Niland and wife Julie, this sustainable seafood restaurant has been at the forefront of fish butchery and dining in Australia for some time; alongside sibling venues The Fish Butchery and Petermen.

 

Renowned for using every part of the fish, Josh delivers not only art on the plate but also the palate, as seen in a seven-course daily changing tasting menu with dishes like line-caught nannygai, red pear, white turnip, pea and horseradish vinaigrette, or 12-day dry-aged big eye tuna, potato, chestnuts, turnip tops and brown butter Manjimup truffle bone sauce.

Your fish, your way is what you’ll get on the plate at love.fish on Barangaroo Avenue in Barangaroo. This well-loved Sydney dining destination serves up a seafood menu for every occasion, whether you are looking for a quick, healthy drop-in lunch, a leisurely meal shared over a seafood platter or a group get-together.

 

Expect a casual waterfront vibe with a breezy alfresco area ideal for people watching with a glass of vino in hand while grazing on half-shell Hervey Bay scallops, orange miso butter and pistachio nori crumb; anchor a memorable meal with whole fish of the day, saffron sauce vierge, roasted celeriac, olives and sides of green beans and shoestring fries.

Discover the Gold Coast’s newest seafood dining destination and meeting place at BLOWFISH Ocean Grill + Bar on Oracle Boulevard in Broadbeach. Brought to diners by the team behind Moo Moo Gold Coast and Brisbane, this stylish restaurant is the place to be for fabulous seafood dishes, world-class wines and popular beers – all served in sophisticated, spacious, two-levelled surroundings that are sure to impress.

 

Dive right in for a culinary adventure to remember with signature scallop and Moreton Bay bug spring rolls, charred nori and lemon gel; then throw out a line for mains such as grilled rock lobster with garlic cultured butter and sides of new season potatoes and sautéed green beans, beurre monte and garlic chives.

Reel in good times at Melbourne’s first catch-and-cook restaurant, Fishing Season on Russell Street in the heart of the city. From bait to plate, cast away your worries and savour the finest catch of the day at this Yunnan-style stone pot steamed fish restaurant, where an eclectic vibe awaits, with green leather banquettes, curved windows, wood panelling and interesting artwork setting the tone for a memorable meal.

 

Order à la carte, or head downstairs where you can catch your own fish to be processed in the kitchen, then brought to your table and cooked in front of you in a stone pot, along with any side dishes; perhaps start with black edamame and pickled cucumber, before hooking a whole cod cooked in a high-pressure steamer with a granite bowl and dome-shaped straw lid.

Discover a white-washed, laid-back, beach-friendly take on informal all-day dining at Dunes Restaurant on Barrenjoey Road in Palm Beach. Nestled inside Governor Phillip Park, this Sydney dining destination has concertina windows opening onto a decked terrace, surrounded by coastal greens and Mediterranean vibes; while indoors oozes stylish charm, ideal for celebrating any occasion or event, including weddings.

 

Begin a memorable meal with whole roasted King prawns, harissa butter and fried capers, or soft-shell crab, snow pea tendrils, sesame dressing and sriracha mayo; before mussels with lemongrass, turmeric, coconut, choy sum and a garlic baguette, or tuna crudo and rocket pesto linguine with pangrattato, heirloom tomatoes and Parmesan. 

Fishing for great seafood in the heart of Melbourne's CBD? Head along Collins Street to find Box Seafood Restaurant, where an elegant interior of white-clothed tables set with flowers, vibrant artwork and plush drapes set the scene for reeling in fresh fish and shellfish, creatively prepared by a dedicated team of Chefs for your pleasure.

 

Drawing from an abundance of fresh produce and regional wines, expect to salivate over starters of clam and crab chowder served with croutons, then devour chilli King prawns and steamed jasmine rice, or char-grilled Moreton Bay bugs with rocket, citrus dressing and fresh lemon. Those looking to share opt for the specially designed Box seafood platter and delve into oysters, crab, bugs, scallops, fish, King prawns, calamari and mussels.